It’s the summer/early autumn of love… and of UAVs. We’ve finally gotten ourselves around to go through the UAV Flight Plan issued by the USAF - so for the next four weeks, we’ll be holding UAV Mondays. I bet y’all are delighted ;)

WTF? HAL9000 wasn’t in the Acquisitions list!

So, will HAL9000 take over our Predators? We shall see.

The Flight Plan is available here, also read Lt Gen Dave Deptula’s presentation.

Week 1 (7 September) will look at the Flight Plan, esp. at section 3.4, outlining the main future objectives.

Week 2 (14 September) will look at the openings in UAV development. What new capabilities will be delivered by the Flight Plan’s objectives?

Week 3 (21 September) will be all about the personal side. Surely UAVs need someone to fly ‘em? What will the cultural ramifications be on the Air Force?

Week 4 (28 September) will, finally, examine the costs, and moot the idea of a home-built UAV. UAVs are generally regarded as one major technical advantage over insurgencies. Is that a warranted position? Or can home-made ‘IUAVs’ compete?